The expression conspiracy of silence, or
culture of silence, relates to a condition or
matter which is known to exist, but by tacit communal unspoken
consensus is not talked about or acknowledged. Commonly such
matters are considered culturally shameful. Taboo subjects may be indirectly
discussed via the use of politically
correctcode words, or euphemisms.

Social conditions - gang
crime, drugs or other unlawful
or disparaged activity. Omertà, the Cosa Nostra (Mafia) cultural code of Sicily, is a significant example of an entire
culture built upon silence. Stop Snitchin' is a recent example.

Personal problems - for example the increasing alcoholism of a
significant individual in some context may become the subject of a
culture of silence, whereby attention is averted by the relevant
group.

Avoidance of recognition of some problem - for example Gulf War
syndrome or the like - in order to officially bury (hide) a
possible problem and thus avoid accusations, investigations or
liability.

Members of the Charlestown community in
Massachusetts were unwilling to share information that would
facilitate homicide investigations because of their reliance on
vigilante justice, fear of retaliation by criminals, and
anti-police sentiment according to the Dept. of Justice.[1]

A number of controversial matters are considered by some to be
buried under a refusal to discuss, or not treated with appropriate
seriousness, similar to a conspiracy of silence. Examples include
UFOs, assassinations,
military incidents, and more generally, various events where it is
felt by a significant minority that the truth has been covered up. A proven example
is the Watergate cover-up of the early
1970s, exposed by The Washington Post and The New York
Times.

On 22 November 2006, Italian writer Antonio Socci claimed in his Il
Quarto Segreto di Fatima ("The Fourth Secret of Fatima") that
the Holy See has, in spite
of its statements to the contrary, not released the Third Secret of Fatima.[2]

Effects of a conspiracy of
silence

A conspiracy of silence in some field, has effects at many
levels:

Those who are directly suffering, or causing others to suffer,
perpetuate their cycle of harm and suffering

Those who have suffered have their suffering extended by having
their condition ignored or minimized, and are not considered
seriously or redressed appropriately